Report No. PIC728 Project Name India-National Agricultural Technology Project (@) Region South Asia Sector Agriculture Project ID INPA10561 Implementing Agency Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Government of India Krishna Bhavan New Delhi 110 001 Contact: Secretary of Agriculture Ministry of Agriculture Telephone: (91-11) 382651 and Director General, ICAR Telephone: (91-11) 382269 Date Prepared June 1997 Project Board Date November 1997 Objectives: 1. The main objectives of the project would be to: (i) improve the efficiency of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Organization and Management system; (ii) enhance the performance and effectiveness of research scientists in responding to the location specific needs of framers; and (iii) pilot test innovations to improve the management of technology dissemination activities with greater accountability to and participation by the farming community. Strategy: 2. The project strategy would emphasize: -- improving the efficiency of public institutions by strengthening management systems and procedures and raising human skills, stressing improvements in financial management, priority-setting and resource allocation, stronger links and cooperation with external sources of expertise in agricultural sciences, the improvement of staff incentives and accountability, and concurrent monitoring and impact evaluation; -- adapting the organization and management, staff skills, modes of operation and programs of public research and technology assessment and transfer services to interdisciplinary programs of production systems research focused on activities in the public goods category, thereby, making them more relevant to current and upcoming location-specific needs of farmers; -- testing of new approaches to technology dissemination on a pilot basis using participatory methodologies and closer integration with farming communities; and -_ accumulation of replicable experiences to guide further changes. The project would fund the first five-year time-slice of a longer term program to revitalize national systems for technology generation, assessment and dissemination so that they are able to effectively address challenges of the next century. Components: 3. The project would have three components: (i) Development of the ICAR Organization and Management System: funding would be provided to continue with present reforms to ICAR organization and management processes including support for the review of selected institutions aimed to enhance their management capabilities; for strategic studies, consultancies and workshops to plan further evolution of ICAR itself and its role in the evolution of the Indian NARS; for the expansion of ARIS connectivity and associated information systems; and for improved research priority setting plus the strengthening of underpinning socio- economic research. A project management unit (PMU) for NATP implementation would be created. (ii) Support for Agro-ecosystems Research. The project would fund location-specific interdisciplinary research programs by multi-institutional teams on each of the priority production systems, time bound cross-cutting support to these programs in the mission mode; supporting strategic research, especially involving wider deployment and diffusion of skills in the new approaches of frontier sciences to address production systems problems; the creation of a Competitive Eco- regional Grant Scheme to promote entry of other institutions (general universities, foundations, NGOs, farmer associations, the corporate sector) outside the ICAR/SAU system into research on eco-regional problems; and capacity building of scientists and institutions supporting agro-ecosystems research through linkages and interchanges with national and international centers of scientific excellence. (iii) Innovations in Technology Dissemination. Funds would be provided to a selected number of districts in agro- ecological zones where production systems research is being supported under component (ii), to strengthen linkages between researchers, extension workers, farmers and other stakeholders (including NGOs and the corporate sector) to introduce innovations in technology dissemination matched to local needs and - 2 - characteristics. The project would fund requirements at state level to oversee district-level innovations, as well as strategic support at national level for capacity building and innovations in information management. Organization and Management: 4. Project policy and coordination would be the responsibility of a National Steering Committee, chaired by the Secretary DARE - who is also the Director General of ICAR - on which both DARE/ICAR and DAC would be represented, along with the Ministries of Finance and Planning, Vice Chancellors of selected SAUs, and Agricultural Production Commissioners from some participating States. Overall project management would be overseen by a Project Management Unit (PMU) to be placed in ICAR under the leadership of a Project Director (NATP). To simplify management coordination, leadership for implementation of components or sub-components would be delegated to a nominated individual, who would be given the maximum of autonomy. Execution of components (i) and (ii) would be led by nominees from ICAR and component (iii) a nominee from DOE. In the case of component (ii), a separate Agro-ecosystem Director would be nominated to direct production systems research within each agro- ecosystem. At system level, a nominated lead institute would be responsible to the Agro-ecosystem Director for research program planning, implementation and reporting as well as for coordinating the contributions of a multi-disciplinary group of cooperating institutions. Project Costs and Fund Flows: 5. Project cost is provisionally estimated to be Rs 10,673 million (US$248.6 million) including physical and price contingencies. IDA funding is expected to cover about 76t of the total project, but this has yet to be agreed. Fund flows to implementing units under component (i) and the cross-cutting, strategic, competitive grant or HRD elements of component (ii) would be the responsibility of the Project Director, assisted by staff of the PMU. Release of funds for agro-ecosystems research would be authorized by and channeled through Agro-ecosystem Directors; lead institutes would account for funds allocated to themselves and their various cooperators using their existing finance and accounting departments. Funds for component (iii) would pass directly to the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, MOA which would channel them to implementing participants. Environmental and Social Aspects: 6. The project would have a favorable impact on the environment. It would support development of cost effective technologies to optimize the use of natural resources (land and water) and applied inputs in line with the potential of different agro-ecological zones. Integrated Pest Management practices would be promoted for major pest and diseases which would minimize the use of pesticides, benefiting both the environment and farmers. - 3 - 7. The proposal to foster stronger institution/village links would make these services more responsive to their needs. In addition, proposed strengthening of extension coverage of rural women and farmers in rainfed and marginal areas would ensure that the needs of poor farmers are met more effectively. Contact Point: Ashok K. Seth, Task Manager. The World Bank 1818 H Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone No.: (202) 458-5454 Fax No.: (202) 522-1500 Note: This is information on an evolving project. Certain components may not necessarily be included in the final project. Processed by the Public Information Center week ending June 27, 1997. - 4 -